When thousands of years back women in the Indus valley civilization wore the sari (an Indian costume) as a piece of cloth covering their bodies, they could have never imagined that centuries later that sari would become a fashion statement and would be taken up by artists & designer all across the world to create their own interpretations.
India, the country whose origin dates back to the time when human civilization was just taking birth, has beautifully managed to preserve its tradition and culture till date. Fashion, from the very beginning of the Indian origin, has been extremely graceful, elegant and very sensual.
Till a decade ago, for the world, Indian fashion was a thing of the past, commonly treated as an ethnic frame or fashion from a country of the poor. But now with the tremendous economic and overall growth of the country, from the clutches of the back drop frame, India, is now steering its way through old notions & presumptions and coming to the front of world fashion scenario. The sudden huge interest of fashion amongst the youth of India; the coming of various international fashion brands and designers; a whole full shower of international fashion publications in the Indian market; mushrooming of various designers and other fashion related professions, is all a result of India awakening towards ‘Fashion and Luxury’. And so is the world awakening towards Indian Fashion. With 83,000 millionaires at present and 16,000 adding every year, India is definitely rising in its global contribution towards the luxury market.
As it is observed, there has been a full huge brigade of some of the most sorted international designers & brands who have been inspired by Indian fashion lately. With each new notion & representation, fashion from India has reached places and making places reach her. From an extremely long and impressive list of India-inspired Designers, here are some, to name a few.
-There was Armani Prive’s couture collection in 2007 which was described as ‘Maharani of Milan’ with his signature jackets & skirts in Indian motifs & cuts, taking hints from ‘kurti & churidaar’.
– Dior’s resort 08 collection on the other hand borrowed lots of glitter, paisley prints & silhouettes from the Indian origin with a twist of the 40’s look.
– Hermes SS 08 collection brought together India in a magnificent form through its campaigns (using Laxmi Menon with a traditionally decorated Elephant) and through its catwalk presentation. The collection saw Indian elements like exquisite sari dresses, silk turbans, Nehru jackets, re-invented kurta-churidar and many things truly exotic Indian.
– Alexander Mc Queen’s FW 08 collection saw some of the most magically beautiful pieces fused in a great mixture of Indian elements like- intricate Indian jewelry, silk borders, ‘morjari’ shoes and peacock motifs, with regal British rudiments of Queen Victoria and the Duke of Wellington.
– John Galliano’s SS 03 collection was a mad outburst of imagination picking not only subtle elements but huge chunks from India into his garments. There were models painted in Indian festival colors, garments with Indian gods printed all over, swathes of sari fabrics wrapped around hoops and lots of traditional Indian gold jewelry.
– And the latest is when international luxury giant Louis Vuitton came out with its special Diwali collection of dresses made from vintage sari fabrics sourced from various parts of India. The Marc Jacob designed limited ready to wear sari dresses were said to be the company’s collective tribute to India’s long tradition of craftsmanship and splendorous fabrics.
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The New Year’s good news is that starting January 2011, the luxury brand Louis Vuitton boutique at Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai will offer its buyers the option to personalize their bags. 
January Jones is the latest Versace blonde to steam up the ol’ bifocals with her line of naked photos where she is wearing super-sexy stilettos and a handbag–still.
